When the Atlanta Braves walked on to the field in Great American Ball Park on Opening Day 2022, the freshest memory in their collective mind was of celebrating the 2021 World Series title on the home turf of the Houston Astros. Jorge Soler had crushed a 3-run tater, Max Fried kept the electric ‘stros offense off the board completely, and the Braves earned themselves a gorgeous ring for their efforts.
Perhaps there was a bit of a hangover for the key parties involved, as Fried was tagged for 5 ER to start the 2022 campaign. He exited with runners on in the Bottom of the 6th, and Brandon Drury punished him by swatting a 3-run dinger off Colin McHugh to put the nail in the Atlanta coffin.